Electric circuit connecting mechanism



p 28, 1954 H. T. MACKENSEN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTING MECHANISM Filed pril 8, 1952 N 1V m w N MRN 1 mm% I|||||| I @J E :i, Q ...Q. 1 3/ m. TN w. Om

mm mm ANN mm Patented Sept. 28, 1954 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTING MECHANISM Harold '1. Mackensen, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application April 8, 1952, Serial No. 281,167

Claims.

This invention relates to electrical circuit apparatus having electric circuit connecting mechanism such, for example, as circuit breakers or cooperating plug and socket elements.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of the type above set forth wherein electric circuit connecting mechanism, which when connecting an electric circuit, is housed under a cover, and in which a pivoted operating mechanism for moving an element of the connector mechanism is retained against rotation in one direction by the cover when the latter is covering the connector mechanism.

In carrying out the foregoing object it is another obejct of the invention to provide improved electric circuit connecting apparatus wherein an electrical circuit connecting mechanism, preferably but not necessarily in the form of a circuit breaker, is contained within an explosion or flame-proof housing provided with a removable cover or lid wherein the circuit breaker is operated to make and break an electrical circuit by means of an operating mechanism including a reciprocably mounted shaft that extends into the housing and preferably at one side of the circuit connector mechanism and a means carried by the operating shaft pivot ed so that it lies between the circuit connecting apparatus and the cover or lid, the cover or lid retaining it against rotation in one direction, so that the operating means may be swung, while the lid or cover is removed, to a, position where access to the connector mechanism and/or its removal from the housing may be had without interference from the operating mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved electric circuit connecting apparatus wherein an electrical circuit connecting mechanism including plug and socket members adapted to connect an electrical circuit by telescoping movement of the members along an axis are housed under a movable cover and one of said members is moved with respect to the other along said axis by a pivoted operating means which extends beneath the cover when the latter is covering the connector mechanism and is retained against pivotal movement in one direction by the cover.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan, with parts broken away and some of its internal mechanism shown in dotted lines, of electrical circuit connector apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the circuit connector apparatus as seen in Fig. 1, and, like Fig. 1, having parts broken away and showing some internal mechanism in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the right-hand end of the apparatus as seen in Fig. 1 and also showing some internal mechanism in dotted lines; and

Fig. 4 is a view in section, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, but with the apparatus being shown with a cover removed and an operating member being rotated the normal circuit operating position of the operating member being indicated in dot-dash lines.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an electrical circuit connecting apparatus constructed in an explosion or flame-proof manner in order that it may be employed, for example, in a coal mine where gaseous conditions may prevail and wherein any exposed sparking might cause an explosion. The connector apparatus includes a base It fabricated adjacent one end to form an explosion or flame-proof box or housing H including three side walls 12, a front side wall l3, and a top frame 14 having a plurality of stud bolts l5 extending therefrom. The top frame M and side walls l2, l3 are welded together and the side Walls are welded to a bottom member or plate It of the base H] whereby the base it is formed as a unitary rigid structure. The bottom member l6 within the box or housing H is provided with a pair of spaced blocks I! (see Figs. 2 and 4) upon which is mounted an electric circuit connector mechanism I8 in the form of a manually operated electric circuit breaker operable automatically to open the circuit of which it may form a part under electric overload conditions. The circuit connector mechanism l8 includes a housing or casing l9 and a finger or toggle lever 20 extending at one side or, as shown in the drawings, from the top thereof. This circuit breaker may be of the type described or it may be any of the other well known types of such apparatus and therefore its internal structure need not be shown here.

One of the side walls l2 of the box or housing ll carries an elbow sleeve stuffing box 2| which is fastened to the housing H by means of cap screws 22. An electrical cable, not shown, leads through the elbow sleeve stufiing box 2|, and the side wall l2 of the box or housing to the circuit connector mechanism l8 within the box or housing II in a well known manner, and this connection by reason of the elbow sleeve stuffing box is flame or explosion-proof.

The circuit connector I8 is operated to open and close the electric circuit of which it may form a part by means of a pivotally and reciprocably mounted operating mechanism 23 which includes a shaft 24 that extends through the front wall I3 of the box or housing II. Shaft 24 slides through and pivots in a sleeve 25 which is welded to the front wall I3 of the box or housing II, and the shaft extends into the box or housing I I at one side of the circuit connector I8 therein and above it.

At its inner end, namely, that end which is within the box or housing I I, the shaft 24 carries a plate 26 which forms a yoke, the tines of which straddle the finger or toggle lever of the circuit connector I8. At its outer end the shaft 24 carries a stop nut 2? adapted to abut the bushing to limit the inward motion of shaft 24 and a disc, knob or kick plate 23 by which an operator may grasp or otherwise move the operating mechanism 23 to cause the circuit connect I8 to make and break the electrical circuit in which it may be connected. The tines 29 of the plate or yoke 26 are bent upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines at 30 in Fig. 4, so that when a lid or cover 3! is placed upon the top frame I4 of the box or housing I I and secured thereon by nuts and lock washers on the stud bolts I5, the upwardly bent portions 39 of the plate 25 abut the cover 3| so that the lid or cover 3I prevents the shaft 24 and plate 26 from pivoting in one direction, namely, away from the circuit connector I8.

It will be seen that the plate or yoke 26 extends between the housing I9 of the circuit connector I8, and the lid or cover 3I, and that it is held against rotation in one direction by the housing I9 of the circuit connector I8 and against rotation in the other direction by the lid or cover 3|, and that the plate or yoke 26 cannot become disengaged from the finger or toggle lever 29 of the circuit connector I8 when the lid is mounted on the box I I. It will also be seen that when the lid or cover SI is removed from the flame-proof box or housing II that the shaft 24 and plate 26 may be pivoted so that the plate 26 will swing away from the circuit connector mechanism I8 through the opening in the top frame I3, and therefore should it become necessary to service the circuit connector mechanism I8, ready access may be had to it by merely removing the lid or cover 3| and pivoting or swinging the shaft 24 and plate or yoke 26, as above described, and this may be done without disturbing the adjustment of the operating mechanism 23.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the right-hand side wall I3 of the box or housing II carries the female part 32 of an electrical circuit connector 33 of the plug and socket type. Female part 32 of the circuit connector 33 is received in a base cup 34, and it is held therein by a collar 35, the connector part 32 including a bead portion 36 that is received by adjacent flanges formed on each the cup 34 and collar 35 so that when the collar 35 is drawn toward the side wall I3 by cap screws 3! that extend through lugs or ears on each the cup 34 and collar 35 the part 32 will be clamped into the cup 34 and against the side wall I3 of the box or housing I I. The female part 32 of the plug and socket connector is attached to an electrical cable shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and this cable is connected to the circuit breaker I 8 within the box or housing I I and when the circuit breaker I8 4 is closed electric current may flow from the circuit breaker I 8 to the part 32.

The bottom member I6 of the base I!) is reinforced by an upright plate 52 and extends beneath the female connector part 32 and adjacent its end it is provided with a pair of spaced upstanding generally L-shaped brackets 38 which provide bearings for a pivoted lever 39. Lever 39 is L-shaped (see Fig. 3) and its bottom portion extends through the brackets 33 transversely of the axis upon whcih the male member 40 of the connector 33 is moved to telescope with the member 32 to connect and disconnect the electrical circuit in which the plug and socket connector 33 is interposed. Member 40 is attached to the end of an electric cable adapted to supply any machine with electric current.

The bottom or shaft portion 4| of the arm 39 which is pivoted to the base I0 through the brackets 38 has welded thereto a pair of arms or hooks 42 which together with the bottom portion II of the lever 39 form a yoke adapted to abut and engage laterally projecting shoulders 43 on the part 43 of the connector 33. It may be mentioned that the electrical apparatus herein described is of heavy rugged construction whereby it may be employed in electrical circuits carrying high voltage and amperage, and that therefore it is extremely difiicult for an operator to force the male and female members of the connector 33 together, and that one of the functions of the pivoted lever 39 is that of forcing the plug and socket members of the connector 33 together when the lever is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to use the lever for this purpose, an operator merely aligns the part 49 with the part 32, and by grasping the lever 33 at its handle portion and rotating it counter-clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, the arms or hooks 42 or yoke of the lever 39 engage the shoulders 43 of the part 40 and force the parts 49 and 32 together.

The plug and socket type connector 33 is protected by a housing formed of the bottom member I3 and a lid or cover 44 having notched end walls adapted to fit over the connector 33 and brackets 38. Cover 44 when covering the connector 33 rests upon the brackets 38 and it is pivotally mounted to the bottom member I 8 by means of an upright bracket 45 including a tubular top element 45 that extends upwardly from the bottom member I 5 into the open bottom of the cover 44. A pivot pin 41 extends through tube 46 of bracket 45 and opposite side walls of the lid or cover 44. Endwise movement of this pin 41 is prevented by a cotter key 48 carried by the pin 41 that abuts an end wall 49 of the cover 44 and one end of the tube 48. Lid or cover 44 may pivot about the pin 4! in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to cover and uncover the connector 33 and th yoke portion including arms or hooks 42 of the lever 39.

An important feature of construction is here to be noted, namely, that the end wall 49 of the cover 44 when the cover 44 is positioned to protect the connector 33 lies in an upright plane and abuts the arms or hooks 42, thereby preventing pivotal movement of the lever 39 in one direction, namely, clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When the male member 40 of the connector 33 is properly connected with the female part 32, rotation of the lever 39 is substantially prevented in either direction. Lever 39 carries a lug 59 between a pair of collars 5| welded upon the lever. Lug 50 may be positioned is to retain the cover 4 properly positioned over the connector 33 and yoke portion of lever 39.

It is important to note that the operating shaft 24 and disc 28 are positioned with respect to the pivoted lid or cover 44, so that when the c rcuit connector it is in an on position, that is, connecting the electrical circuit in which the connector 33 is also interposed, the shaft 24 and disc 28 are positioned so as to interfere with pivotal movement of the cover 44, thereby preventing it from being moved from that position in which it covers the connector 33. This cover [it can be moved from this position only when the connector I9 is in its off position in which the shaft 24 and disc 23 are moved toward the box or housing H.

The connector above described, when in use, is connected in an electric circuit which generally is a supply circuit for apparatus, such, for example, as a mine drill, and electric current is supplied first to the electric circuit connector l8 and then through the plug and socket connection to the drill, and the construction of the apparatus is such that the plug or male member 40 can be connected or disconnected from the female member 32 of the plug and socket connector 33 only when the female member 32 is tie-energized. This is because the operating member 23 must be in its ofi position in order that the cover 44 may be swung to uncover the plug and socket con-. nector 33.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that by this invention an improved electrical connector apparatus is provided wherein both connector apparatus of the circuit breaker type and of the plug and socket type are provided with operating mechanisms having similar features, particularly in that the operating mechanism for each of them is prevented from rotating in one direction by the lid or cover that normally protects the circuit connector apparatus and that the operating mechanisms are held against rotation in an opposite direction by the connector mechanisms themselves.

It will also be apparent that the invention provides for improved electrical connector apparatus wherein the operating mechanisms may be swung to positions in which they do not interfere with access to and the removal of the electrical circuit connector mechanisms when the protective lids or covers are removed from them.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and applicant therefore wishes not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of the invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of th United States is:

1. Electrical circuit connector apparatus including a base, an electrical circuit connector mechanism on said base, a cover movable to cover and uncover said connector mechanism, a pivoted circuit connector operating means carried by said base andd covered in part by said cover when the latter is positioned to cover said connector mechanism, and means on said cover engageable with said pivoted operating means when said cover is positioned to cover said connector mechanism for retaining said pivoted operating means substantially against pivotal movement in one direction.

2. Electrical circuit connector apparatus including a base, an electrical circuit connector mechanism on said base, a cover movable to cover and uncover said connector mechanism, a pivoted circuit connector operating means carried by said base including a yoke covered in part by said cover when the latter is positioned to cover said connector mechanism, and means on said cover engageable with said pivoted operating means when said cover positioned to cover said connector mechanism for retaining said pivoted operating means substantially against pivotal movement in one direction.

3. Electrical circuit connector apparatus including a base, an electri al circuit connector mechanism on said base, a cover movable to cover and uncover said connector mechanism, a pivoted circuit connector operating means can ried by said base and covered in part by said cover when the latter is positioned to cover said connector mechanism, means for holding said movable cover in connector covering position, and means on said cover engageable with said pivoted operating means when said cover is posi tioned to cover said connector mechanism for retaining said pivoted operating means substantially against pivotal movement in one direction.

4. Electrical circuit connector apparatus including a base, an electrical circuit connector mechanism on said base, a cover movable to cover and uncover said connector mechanism, a pivoted circuit connector operating means car ried by said base including a yoke, covered in part by said cover when the latter is positioned to cover said connector mechanism, means for holding said movable cover in connector covering position, and means on said cover engageable with said pivoted operating means when said cover is positioned to cover said connector mechanism for retaining said pivoted operating means substantially against pivotal movement in one direction.

5. Electrical circuit connector apparatus including a base, an electrical circuit connector mechanism including plug and socket members adapted to be connected by relative movement along an axis, means mounting one of said members upon said base, cover means for said circuit connector, pivot means mounting said cover on said base whereby it may be swung from connector covering to connector uncovering positions, and a lever pivoted upon said base including a portion covered by said cover when the latter is in connector covering position engaging the other of said connector members for moving it along said axis to connect said connector members, and means on said cover engageable with said lever substantially retaining it against pivotal movement in one direction when said cover is in connector covering position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,568 Smith June 27, 1916 2,068,399 Dash et al. Jan. 19, 1937 2,180,501 Blood Nov. 21, 1939 2,418,006 Bangert Mar. 25, 1947 2,434,521 Savage Jan. 13, 1948 2,577,871 Bauroth Dec. 11, 1951 2,665,330 Wong Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 676,799 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1952 

